According to reports, Miley Cyrus and Stella Maxwell are said to have been dating “for months” and are known to friends as “a couple”.

A source told the New York Daily News newspaper’s [email protected] column: “They hold hands and hug and are very comfortable together. They’re definitely together.”

Miley and Stella have been seen spending a lot of time together since the 22-year-old singer split from Patrick Schwarzenegger in March, including trips to Las Vegas and the South by Southwest festival in Texas, and can regularly be spotted in pictures on one another’s Instagram feeds.

Miley, who met the 24-year-old New Zealander through her assistant and best friend Cheyne Thomas – has recently opened up about her experiences of dating both men and women.

She said: “There are times in my life where I’ve had boyfriends or girlfriends. And there are times where I just love being with myself and don’t want to give part of myself away to someone else … I think that’s a new freedom for women, especially.”